Establishment and Variation of Apprenticeships Committee
The Establishment and Variation of Apprenticeships Committee was established in 2009 as part of the amendments to the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 that came into effect on 10 June 2009.
The Establishment and Variation of Apprenticeships Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Minister for Training on the establishment and variation of apprenticeships and traineeships in Western Australia.
Terms of Reference
The Establishment and Variation of Apprenticeships Committee:
• is required to meet on an as needs basis to consider submissions from Training Councils relating to the classification of prescribed vocational education and training qualifications, particularly the establishment or variation of apprenticeships and traineeships, and make recommendations to the Minister for Training;
• ensures that Training Councils have followed the due process set out in the Guidelines for the Establishment and Variation of Apprenticeships;
• considers submissions from Training Councils including implications and risks identified by the Department of Education and Training and make recommendations to the Minister for Training within four weeks of receiving a submission;
• reports to the State Training Board on the advice and recommendations it provides to the Minister for Training for each submission; and
• refers submissions to the State Training Board for a decision and recommendation to the Minister for Training if the Establishment and Variation of Apprenticeships Committee is unable to reach a decision on a submission, or if the decision would potentially have a significant negative impact on the domestic skills market for that particular trade and industry including employers, training providers, and students.
Membership
Membership of the Establishment and Variation of Apprenticeships Committee is determined by the State Training Board, and includes at least three members of the State Training Board, one of which is the Chair of the State Training Board, and any other individuals approved by the State Training Board.
Current Members
• Keith Spence, Chair
• Simone McGurk
• Jane McMeikan
• Geoffrey Wrigley
• Ray Harris, Director, Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Department of Education and Training (ex-officio member)
• Phil de Garis, Managing Director, Education and Training International (ex-officio member)
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Skills Formation Taskforce
About the Taskforce
The Taskforce comprised of a chairperson and six high level industry representatives drawn from those industries which were particularly impacted by skill shortages. Industry was closely involved in the work of the Taskforce with over 60 industry representatives participating in the Industry Working Groups established under the auspices of the Taskforce.
Terms of Reference
To provide advice to the government on the reforms required to the apprenticeship and traineeship system in Western Australia to address skill shortages with particular reference to:
1. improving the relevance and attractiveness of apprenticeships and traineeships to young men and women
2. increasing employer and industry commitment to, and investment in, apprenticeships and traineeships
3. removing impediments to the growth of apprenticeships and traineeships
4. addressing underlying causes of, and developing strategies to improve, non-completion rates
5. improving the flexibility and responsiveness of the system to the skill needs of industry
6. ensuring the quality of training.
Membership
Members were been appointed from industries where skill shortages were particularly apparent:
• Hon Clive Brown, Chair, Skills Formation Taskforce
• Mr Dale Alcock, Managing Director, Dale Alcock Homes
• Mr Bruce Lake, Managing Director, Vermilion Oil and Gas Australia
• Ms Kate Lamont, Proprietor, Lamonts
• Mr Steve Murdoch, Chief Operating Officer, Austal Ships
• Mr Mark Simpson, Training Manager, Pilbara Iron
• Mr Rod Slater, Managing Director, Eurogroup Pty Ltd
The Taskforce’s report entitled “Careers for Life: Creating a dynamic and responsive apprenticeship and traineeship system”, which was publicly released in December 2006, made 53 recommendations in regard to the reforms required to the apprenticeship and traineeship system.
Essentially, the recommendations of the Taskforce reflected the Taskforce’s view that:
• there needed to be more opportunity to secure an apprenticeship or traineeship;
• more support should be provided to both employers and apprentices and trainees;
• processes should be simplified and the apprenticeship and traineeship system should be easily navigated;
• training providers needed to be responsive to industry needs and performance driven; and
• there must be integrity and quality in skills assessment.
In response to these recommendations, significant resources have been invested in the apprenticeship and traineeship system to make it more accessible, efficient and responsive to the needs of industry.
Implementation Strategy
A key strategy to ensure the momentum for change continues over the four year duration of the allocated funding has been the establishment of the Skills Formation Taskforce Implementation Team in November 2007. The role of the team is to facilitate and support the internal Departmental Directorates, industry, TAFEWA colleges and private Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in implementing the Taskforce recommendations.
The State Training Board closely monitors the progress of achievements against each recommendation and the Implementation Team reports to the Board on a bi-annual basis or more frequently if requested.
Progress to date
Substantial progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Taskforce within the context that it is a four year project and that many of the recommendations are multi-faceted and often interdependent. A number of projects relating to the recommendations were completed during 2007. An outline of the significant achievements, grouped under the main themes of the Taskforce recommendations is provided.
STF Summary of Achievements to STB